Good morning fine ladies,

I managed to keep the calm all day long yesterday but I had to work on it! It already feels like regular life is creeping in and vacation was a distant dream. Just before we left last week my Mom called and was upset that her new cell phone died and would not power on. I called support and they sent her a shell of a phone for replacement. I talked to her on vacation and she was upset it was just a shell and said it was all scratched up and junky. A real piece of My niece visited last weekend and lo and behold, nothing was wrong with the phone other than my Mom did not hold the power on button down long enough to get the thing to turn on - you have to press and hold it for a few seconds. And the replacement phone was not scratched up either - it had a protective skin that needed to be peeled off - with her bad eyes she could not see the skin. They are sending yet another replacement phone since they thought the problem was with the battery and could not find a replacement battery. Such fun!

I had macaroni and cheese last night since we are really low on groceries. I just can't eat that junk any more. Felt bloated all last night and carried into today. I will have to send DH to the store although it looks like we will be getting some rain today which takes grilling out of the picture.

Michelle - I hope you feel better. A summer cold is way more miserable than a winter one. Get extra rest and take care of yourself If you can't handle hot tea with lemon in this weather, then maybe some fresh lemonade?

Same goes for you Mel, this heat and humidity is draining. I'm glad you aren't trying to be superwoman to everyone in the building and sacrificing yourself. Tell them you only work from 7am to 8am otherwise they have to find 2 beefy guys to follow you around in sarongs and fan you to keep you cool

Ceejay - I'm glad you're pacing yourself. Don't want to spend your down time recovering from the work week. I could not go down the manholes for all the money in the world They say you get used to smelly jobs but I don't know about that.

Laura - what a nice long vacation ahead of you. Enjoy! There's alot of nice options within a reasonable drive. Get some fun in because fall is just around the corner (don't wack me Michelle )

Annie - I loved the quick turn around with grandma - you sure are witty It's amazing the colors we get when we do our own dye jobs.

I woke up this morning to go to the potty for the usual early morning loo run. I was very sad to see that it was not 4am like usual but instead 15 minutes before the alarm was due to go off. I really enjoy that extra couple of hours of sleep and feel like I got cheated today. It's even worse being a gray day and all. Guess I will have 2 cups of coffee today.

Hope the day goes well for the rest of you. Have a good one.

Good luck Shad on the job hunting. You know something will come up.

Ok Girls...I need prayer...I am having the Whoa is me day.

Yesterday my boss told me we have to cut 8 people back. (Terminate) She has offered up herself, which I found kind of strange. Today I found out she won the lottery big time a couple of years ago and does not have to work. Anyway, if they take her, then, I too, will be eliminated. I am totally freaking out at this point. I carry the insurance on daughter while she goes to school. She has an appt next week as her pre-cancer cells are back and they are going to dialate, scrape and freeze her cervix. She had an "all clear" six months ago, but now it has come back. Please pray for my job and mostly pray for sissy's health.

Just can't do personals right now, my head is not in the right place.

Feel better Chelle.

Love you guys.

Annie - I'm sending tons of prayers and your way. Is there any way you can transfer to a different position with a different boss? I would definitely get the resume back out there. When will you know whether or not her position is being cut? Does she have any suggestions on positions you might be able to transfer into within the company? I'm so sorry to hear about your DD's health. Sending prayers and her way too.

We love you too, Annie. And we're always here for you.

Now for playing catch up -

Patty - So glad to hear that Blackie did well on his yearly checkup. 13, huh? My eldest is 9 and he sleeps a bit too, but is feisty and playful like a puppy when he's not sleeping. Thanks for your words of encouragement. I know I can do this, and I will succeed at this because I'm not gonna give up...no matter what the scale says. Wow, your parents have been together 56 years? That's wonderful! So nice that your parents are doing well!

Ceejay - I hope you get to take a nice long birthday weekend. Shouldn't you be getting a day off sometime soon?

Shad - The Fiona's Wish flower is just gorgeous! I didn't know that a cold/flu could cause weight gain...but I also got surprised on Friday by Auntie Flo's early arrival. So I'm pretty sure that between Auntie Flo and the cold, that could explain at least some of the extra weight. I haven't exercised in nearly a week, though the coughing has made my ribs and abs hurt a lot. I have been eating lighter, so we shall see what the scale has in store for me on Thursday. But I'm not worried about it anymore. I'm doing everything right that I can possibly physically do, so the weight will come off.

Happy - Glad you had a relaxing time in the yurt. How wonderful that you had great weather for TWO nights of meteor shower watching! It was cloudy here...so we missed the Perseids. Well, there's always the Leonids...where we sit outside on a cold November night freezing our arses off watching the shower.


Well, ladies, I'm gonna sign off for now. Since DH and I have been sick, we haven't played much with the puppies and they've taken such good care of us - cuddling and sleeping with us even though we kept waking them up with our coughing fits. They deserve some play time.

I'll catch y'all tomorrow!

Love you all lots,

Thanks Chelle.. Humana is making cuts across the board..there are no other openings available. I will know more after tomorrow's meeting. Thank you for the prayers...I am trying to remain positive...everything happens for a reason and opens door for even better things. It is the unknowing that makes me so nuts. This is the first time I have turned to eating due to stress/depression. Usually I cannot eat. Anyway I am sitting here with my size 4s unbuttoned and only zipped. I am fat and miserable all the way around today. Whine whine whine....brite side...I have only cried once, briefly, today.

I did lay out on the back porch after I got home from CVS from about 10:30 to 11:30, looking at the sky/stars, crying, playing ball with Hella B, talking to BF in St. Louis. Was up only once last night with leg/ankle/foot/toe cramps. I barely could walk to get it out. I tried the bar of soap in the bed remedy that someone here suggested, danged if it didn't work....I will keep the bar of soap at the foot of the bed under the sheets from now on. They say to replace it every 3 months or so.

Later,

Annie, I'm so sorry. I have fingers and toes crossed and lots of prayers for you. They say the economy is picking up but I'm not so sure about that. I hope that if the boss takes a package, that they will find something for you. Prayers for your DD's health too.

If you have to chew on something try celery. DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER Hella's rawhide.

If I may suggest, take a peek at your completely awesome signature too.

Michelle - what are you doing out of bed? Apparently there is some dreadful summer flu making the rounds. 2 of my 5 co-workers have it and they sound awful. I am dodging people myself.

Morning all,

Another lovely day on the horizon. I have a few things on the to-do list, the chief of which is to mass murder a million ants. I can live with them if they stay outside, but they have been coming in, so they have to go. Then I have some more plants to put in - got a couple more gerbera for the patch yesterday and a new rose called Bronze Masterpiece - apparently has a full and fruity fragrance. I will keep you posted. I also picked up some light switches and sockets for the house. The ones I have are 20 years old and beginning to show plastic decay! Now I just have to get the DS2 to put them in for me and then I can finish tiling in the kitchen.
DS2 is using me as the project manager for the settlement of his new house. I have to call several people to get quotes for work done and oversee the work (if I am still home when he takes possession in a couple of weeks). The hearing aid people rang back and set an appointment for the 2.9.09. It's lucky I am really over the fashion thing and have chosen the flesh coloured earpiece since the others are all more expensive. Which brings me to the moral obligation we all have of enjoying life while you can. I was talking to a couple of retired folk while I was there. They used to be farmers. Worked hard all their working life to get debt free and be able to give the kids an education etc. They have sold the farm and more or less survived the stock market crash and were getting all set to enjoy themselves when disaster - one got what was thought to be the flu but turns out to have had an unhealthy effect on his heart, their eyes, bones, health you name started to fail all at the same time and now they have the money to enjoy themselves, they are spending it on hearing aids, glasses, bone specialists, doctors of one sort or another. The things they wanted to do are now out of their reach so they have to set up a new set of goals for the remaining years.
Moral of the story - do it now! Plan it, scope it, pay for it, do it. You can't take the money with you when you go. You've done your best by the kids, use it to your best advantage. It's called SKI holidays (Spend the Kids Inheritance). Worst of all, the wife was telling me that now they are in town and living in a house which is conveniently close to the grown up family, mostly what they get is requests for baby sitting or loans. Sad isn't it.

Annie - my thoughts are with you. You have been there before and now it looks as if it is coming again. I am so sorry. I hope it doesn't happen. It shouldn't happen to people, but it does.

Michelle - hope you are feeling somewhat better now. Rest and gentle exercise is needed now and good fresh food. Time to build resistance again.

Mel - take it easy in the heat. No point in wearing yourself to a frazzle.

Happy - take hold of that holiday feeling and don't let any ******* do you out of it. Happiness deserves more than a fleeting memory.

Laura - have a fun vacation time. Hope you get to do all you planned to do.

So I am off to commit murder on the ants. Patio comes first, then a good sweep up in the house and time to fire the big bombs. Gotta love the ants commitment tho'. It takes a lot to stop them.

:COFDATE: GOOD MORNING CHICKS. WHAT A THUNDERSTORM WE HAD LAST NIGHT. WOW!! LTGHTS, ACTION....RAIN I HAD TO GET OUT OF BED TO UNPLUG THE WHCHAIR. DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE ON THE CIRCUIT BREAKER BECAUSE I DID SOME STUFF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE OFFICE, I AM TAKING TODAY OFF. THANK GOD MAINT. IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND FOR A CHANGE WE ARE GETTING ALONG VERY WELL....MEANING HE IS DOING WHAT HE'S TOLD WITHOUT AN ARGUMENT. SO I AM OFF TO EAT AND RELAX........AT LEAST TILL THE PHONE RINGS

HAPPY~ THE MOM STORY MADE ME LAUGH OUTLOUD...I KNOW IT'S NOT FUNNY BUT WE HAVE THAT HERE TOO. I LOVE WHEN THEY COME TO TELL ME THEY BLEW UP THEIR TV. WHEN ALL THAT IS WRONG IS THEY OVERLOADED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. HOPE THE BLOATS WENT AWAY AND I HATE THE PP THING TOO WHEN IT'S SO CLOSE TO WAKING TIME.

ANNIE~ I AM SO SORRY ABOUT THE JOB AND SISSY. DON'T GET YOURSELF IN A TIZZY. SHE'S GOING TO NEED YOU. TRY YOUR BEST TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ON TODAY....DON'T PROJECT. DYSPLASIA OFTEN COMES BACK AND HAS TO BE REMOVED AGAIN. SO STAY CALM. WILL BE PRAYING FOR BOTH OF YOU.

MICHELLE~ STILL SENDING GOOD THOUGHTS FOR YOU AND DH TO FEEL BETTER. HOPE THE HUGS HELPED YESTERDAY. HERE'S ANOTHER ONE

SHAD~ I WAS JUST TELLING ONE OF THE TENANTS SOMETHING SIMILAR. PEOPLE ARE TELLING HIM HE'S A FOOLISH OLD MAN WASTING HIS MONEY GOING OUT TO EAT ETC. I TOLD HIM HE SHOULD GO OUT AND DO STUFF AS OFTEN AS POSSIBEL BEFORE HE CAN'T GO ANY LONGER. HE'S ALREADY USING A WALKER. NOW HE'S A HAPPY OLD MAN...I SAID THEY ARE JEALOUS HE HAS THE MONEY!!! HOPE YOU WIN THE BATTLE OF THE ANTS!! GO GET 'EM!!! GOOD LUCK WITH BEING THE DS'S OVERSEER. HE PICKED A GOOD PERSON! KEEP US POSTED ON THE BRONZE ROSE! YUM!

Happy Wednesday -

I'm back at work today with lots to do! It doesn't even feel like I had 5 days off (Friday thru Tuesday) since I slept through 4 of them. I started getting a bit of energy back yesterday, but my body definitely reminded me when I was doing too much. Today will be a pretty low-key day - head down, typing away, getting lots of work done. My chest is still kinda rattling when I breathe and I'm coughing a bit, so I probably won't get any "structured" exercise today, other than walking 'round the office, going to the loo, and downstairs to the cafeteria. If I feel better tomorrow, I may try and go to the gym...but I sure ain't gonna rush it.

Annie - My thoughts and prayers are still with you. I'm sending you too. I agree, not knowing drives me crazy. I can handle ANYTHING once I know about it and can make contingency plans or figure out how to deal with it. Darling, you're not fat even if you can't button your size 4s. Take it from soneone who is trying to button Size 16s, okay? You're not fat. Laying on the back porch talking to a friend, letting out your emotions under the stars and playing with Hella Bella sounds really nice. If you feel like eating...figure out what kind of food you want...if you want salty, try popcorn; crunchy, try carrots or celery; sweet, try yogurt or grapes. We all know it's not good to stuff feelings down with food...but if you must, try for the healthy food and definitely avoid the rawhide.

Shad - I hope you brought millions of ants to their demise. I'm looking forward to photos of your new plants. Thanks for the great reminder to enjoy life now. And I'm definitely heeding your advice of rest and gentle exercise. I don't want to sleep through any more summer weekends...we have so few remaining before the chill sets in.

Mel - Enjoy your day off and relax. Thanks for all the hugs and good thoughts. DH and I are both getting better...we just have a little bit of lingering crud in our lungs.

Happy - I hope you have a great day today. It's a pity how all the wonderful relaxing feelings left over from a vacation can quickly dissipate with a bit of stress at work (or with Mom - Bless her heart).

Well, it's catch-up time for this chick!

Lots of love and hugs,

Good morning ladies,

Good to hear you are back at work Michelle but I'm sure just walking around will knock the stuffing out of you. Ease into work there - maybe some walking around the office to get you going again. Lay off the high intensity aerobics until that rattle goes away.

Mel - we got the same rainstorm last night. I was driving home and noticed some really high storm clouds with approaching grayness. We were able to grill brats but the skies really opened up around 8pm. Torrential rains, fierce and constant lightning. I'm glad your chair didn't get an extra "charge".

Shad - good luck with the ants. Once they find their way in it's a constant battle. We had to dig a small trench and treat around the foundation of the house on the outside wall back up north as the ant nation was living under my neighbor's driveway next to us. I hear you on making each minute count. I think about that often particularly as I am hearing about some deaths of aquaintances and former co-workers recently. DH and I said the big puzzle is to figure out how to amass enough cash to support ourselves and remain independent during our feeble years and then check out when we are down to our last $100. Maybe we do that that drive off the cliff when we're about out of money. I think I now understand why some old folks are so tight with a buck - right now when I can get work and can work (hopefully), I'm not so worried because I know I can work as I need to. But when I'm 85, I sure don't want to have to go to the grocery store and bag groceries for 5 dollars an hour just to afford my medicine. Of course I'm thinking that when I'm 85 the world and my physical condition will probably be so shot to that the best thing would be that "dirt nap"

Speaking of work, better get to it. to all the chicks, extra for you Annie - got you on the novena list

Mornin

Thank you for all the good thoughts and prayers and suggestions. Yesterday was my whoa is me day, today is my why me day, tomorrow is my get over it and move on, you boob day. I did send my resume here to work on it, I mean what the H.

A little down in the dumps today, but refuse to let it all get me completely down. Have to have great spirirts, today is DSs 21st BD. God love him, he is planning to come home next Tuesday night as I work tonight and cannot go out with him. His work week is Friday thru Tuesday, off on Wed and Thurs.

Chelle...you are the best, thank you for all your encouraging words. Yes, today I decided not to eat junk and eat healthy. I brought from the gardenl...lettuce, tomato, green pepper, banana pepper, and cucumber to make me an awesome salad for lunch. How are you and DH feeling? Sounds like you are getting a bit back to normal and just so you can go back to work. The getting better part is great, the back to work....well I guess I wouldn't gripe at this stage..smiles! It doesn't matter what size I am, I always feel fat when I cannot fit into my clothes. I am wearing my 8s today so I can have room and breathe. I am still so very proud on your accomplishments with weight, exercise, and getting your back into a feel better state. You keep on keepin on, I want to see less of you (lbs wise).

MEL...Enjoy your relaxing day....about the phone..don't answer it. Isn't it nice when people do as they are told or at least do as they say they are gong to do?

Shad...that is usually how the retirement goes. Too old and decrepid to enjoy it. A dude at a former place of employment kept putting off retirement, finally at 70 he reitired with more money than he knew what to do with. Yep, died at 71.5 of cancer. Kids are lovin' the money however. Now you are a project engineer of a construction site (DSs new house), wow you wear many hats girl.

Happy...if I chew on Hella Bs rawhide, at least I won't gain lbs.

Guess I will have to water my garden tonight cause all this rain that keeps happening in Indiana, keeps dancing all around my house, but none in my yard. Plants are begging for water. Zucchini plant is completely dead.

Sam came over and colored my hair before I went for my hair appt. Her bf, Christopher and the T came over too. It did my heart good. Made chicken tetrazini, fresh greenbeans and pica for dinner. Not one bite of food left on the table.

Hi's to all.

Here is to a great day and good outcome on everything for everyone today.

Again, thank you for all the good wishes and prayers.

Love ya's,

Happy - I'm definitely gonna avoid big time exercise until I can talk/breathe without coughing. Wow, you had quite the show from Mom Nature last night, huh? We're supposed to get rain tonight through Friday...fine by me as DH mowed the lawns yesterday and we don't have any plans until this weekend - hope to get some fishing in.

Annie - Tomorrow is Move Your Boobs Day? I'll bet T will like that one! I didn't see that on the official holiday calendar...but I'll celebrate it by jumping and jiggling just a little...can't move too much or the coughing fits will start. A big Happy Birthday to your DS. I'm envious of your garden. My tomatoes are still mostly all green, cukes never came in and I'm getting more gourds than squash. At least the stuff in the store is still relatively cheap still and tasty. As for seeing less of me...I don't know what the scale will say tomorrow. I just know that with being sick and all, I did everything possible to lose weight this week. I moved a little when my body would allow, and ate on plan, and watched out for the sodium. I'm not gonna worry about it at all. I'll just do my very best each day. It took me years to get to this weight, so if I can lose it in a year or so, I'll be thrilled. Glad you had a nice evening with Sam, her bf and T. The dinner sounds fabulous, and is making my mouth water. What is "pica"? Here's another and and : so that you'll get good news today!

CHELLE...you are THEE VERY BEST! Pica de Gallo....salsa. When salsa is more dry and chopped ingredients...tomatos, jalapenos, onions, cilantro, garlic, and a bit of sugar or splenda, pepper and sea salt, itouch of lime juice...it is usually called pica de gallo. When salsa is a bit more saucy, smooth, runny it is called salsa. I learned that in Texas when I was there last March. Guess it was an educational vacation...

Yeah move my boobs, I meant move on...calling myself a BOOB! Let's make it a move your boobs day anyway, it made me smile.

Annie – I'm so sorry to hear your job is at risk of being eliminated and the bad news about daughter's health. Keeping you in my thoughts.

Ceejay – You mentioned the manhole and I thought of that Dirty Jobs show. I also encountered a dirty job while watching tv the other night. A&E had a show called Hoarders I watched. An organizing company came in (along w/ some kind of clinical researcher studying people who hoard) to help a woman who hoarded food. She had so much and a lot of it was rotting in her fridge and elsewhere in her house - you can imagine the mess, I won't get into details. That clean-out was truly a dirty job. I feel horrible for people who have illnesses like that.

Happy – Glad your mum's cell phone problems weren't very serious. I'm trying to get my mother to get a cell phone – just one of those pay as you go ones. She had a bunch of issues back in April while traveling and definitely could have used one. It will be a b-day gift if she doesn't get one by then - end of Sept.

Mel – Hope you're keeping cool and taking it easy. Smart to take the chair "offline". Too funny about people thinking their tv blew up and it was the circuit breaker. Our old bedroom tv actually did go kaput last week, and while it didn't blow up, there was a funny sound when I turned it on followed by a flash of light from the back of the set that I saw lighting up the wall behind it. The burnt electrical smell followed. Not a calm death. We're just going to buy a used TV, same size, otherwise we'd spend more on a new flat one, and then need a different type of holder/bracket for it, and so on. We're getting one today we saw on craigslist.

Michelle – sorry you and hubby have colds. I had a bad week last week and it included one day where I woke up with a fleeting sore throat and during the day I felt feverish and sort of had a runny nose, but that was about it. I'm lucky it didn't develop into a full-blown cold... Anyway, definitely taking it easy until the congestion in your chest eases up. You're being sensible about the weight loss progress – it didn't go on quickly and, much as we'd like it to, it won't come off quickly. You can only keep on trying and not give up.

Shad – x-rated bird chorus? What did I miss?! Yeh, agree with you about the insects needing to stay outdoors. Even if a spider comes in, if he stays up high on the ceiling, I give them a break. But once they get to my level – sorry Charlie. Hope you had a successful mission against the invading ants! So you have an alternate career path with arranging contractors to do work on houses, and of course your own skills.

Hi to Patty!

Today is the first day of my vacation. What a gorgeous day!!! Slept in til about 7:45, then the dog woke up and started barking. I made eggs and bacon for breakfast. I have had this turkey bacon twice now, once prepared in the toaster oven and today in the frying pan and it didn't get any better. Awful. It was Jennie-O/Turkey Store. Will try other brands since I didn't care for this one. Anyone have a favorite? Maybe I should just buy Canadian bacon. I rarely eat the egg & bacon breaky, so maybe I shouldn't worry about that. I have other areas of my diet that ar far worse than my breakfasts that I should focus on. Bf went off to fight a red light ticket he'd gotten – he won! Showed the court administrator that the video showed the light was yellow when he was making his turn.

Well, today's plan is to get cleaned up and dressed, take doggy for a walk, go get some $$ and buy that TV. Nothing firmly planned this afternoon. I'm meeting a high school friend for dinner at 6 tonight, should be nice. Oh, what a good start to my vacay. Sitting at the table in the 3-season room looking out at doggy laying in the yard, sprawled on his back soaking up the sun. Now the ultra cute doggy behind our house is out being her adorable self. Oh, my dog is a black lab mix adopted as a pup from a lab rescue org. He's now 6.5 yo.

Have a wonderful day ladies.